Edit because I forgot it: As zomirp mentioned, this when understood is a striking summation of the concentration camps suffered by the innocent Jews at the direction of Hitler. But without a context it is shocking to the very soul.
Quote: It is under the heading of "The artistic nude in philately curated by Marino Cassini" as a section from from a quite lengthy exhibit.
"Slovenian Post Office reproducing a painting by Rudy Spaniel, titled in the catalogues Europe-Peace and freedom. Perhaps he would have catalogued it as 'naked macabre...'"
"The social context in which it is born the stamp of the painter Rudy Spaniel is explained by Nace Sumi that writes: 'Even if some European countries are dedicating their special stamps on the celebration of the fiftieth Anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps to a simple reconstruction of these events, the artist chose a representation symbolic. As an illustration of the suffering and liberation of the Fields chose the indirect language of images based on historical tradition. So the only event is translated into memory durable. He illustrated life in Nazi torture chambers with the image of a girl and a skeleton. The two figures powerfully depict the terrible contrast, since a symbol of death - a skeleton - he landed on the body lying down of a young girl - come alive.
"The artist looked for the starting point for this reason in notes medieval depictions, for example in the dance of death, which appears Also in an Istrian wall painting. The idea is the picture in which a human being in the most diverse conditions is transformed and is equated to a skeleton." Unfortunately the stamp does not bring any an indication to those who observe it, except the inscription "60 [the price] and SLOVENIA ." Who, observing it, could combine it with the celebration of 50th anniversary of liberation from concentration camps Germans?
"Although one can accept the interpretation of Nace Sumi, the representation of the macabre amplesso is, however, somewhat shocking.
As I quoted the above, rather questioning of the explanation, it is consistent with seeing the stamp as a standalone subject. In reality, it is not standalone but part of a diptych. Now the pair still does not fully or clearly explain how they are related to the 50th Anniversary of the freeing of the concentration camps. However, it does suggest how "peace [death] and freedom [woman running free]" are derived. Only when in sheet form does the connection get explained.
I think it is a terrible stamp design. I believe in art with objective meanings. If an artist has to explain the meaning of his piece, then he has failed. The stamp designs are ugly, poorly designed as stamps, with the horrible rainbow and gold text that doesn't look right, and the "symbolism" is so on the nose, it can hardly be called symbolism. There are, fortunately, far better stamps with objective designs commemorating the same thing throughout history. All of my opinion on the design aside, it definitely does fit the "What were they thinking?" category.
I have a few weird stamps I want to share, but I am not sure I am allowed to post them due to their content.
Quote: The high denomination of a five stamp set honoring public art:
A scene from the Spanish Civil War, apparently, by Dorde Andrejevic Kun (1938). The two lurking outside the window are Franco's Moroccan troops.
Kun fought in the International Brigade in Spain. He returned to Belgrade, where he had published this print along with eleven others in an album entitled 'For Freedom'. He was immediately arrested, along with the printer, but was released after a month as the police could find no evidence that he'd been in Spain. Almost t.he entire edition was destroyed
Weird stamp (disgusting, in my opinion) that I don't want to post, but feel like mentioning: Tom of Finland stamps 2014. If anybody wants to search for that.
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I have been a Greenland collector for decades and track anti-drug stamps. After posting one of each above, I found this and it is worthy to share. Not all images are what you expect. Incidentally the war atrocity set referenced with censored images I will not post here, but it certainly conveys the inhumanity of war. (Edit: Full set of 18 S/S on ebay is $40.)
fVB4wiVWAng
And as I wanted to edit for the stamp sent mentioned above, I will take a moment to observe as demonstrated in this tread, stamp images can be viewed from many angles, artistic, political and personal as examples and those view can different by miles.
Suggested blasting demolition, destruction of statues, and zero tolerance for those who returned to the fold has been the political flavor of some five years ago. So these three certainly would not get approved recently and could result in violence from certain circles.
I'm getting freakin' sick and tired of the deliberate troublemakers. You know who you are. Stop picking fights. People will start disappearing if it doesn't stop..
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Posted 09/27/2025 4:12 pm
